Centering-gage



1). w. STANDEFORD.

GENTERING GAGE.

Patented Apr. 28, 1885. FI'E-Z UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID W. STANDEFORD, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

CENTERlNG-GAGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,918, dated April 28, 1885.

Application filed July 5, 1883. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, DAVID W. STANDEFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented a new and useful Centering-Gage, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to centering-gages for finding the center of any piece of wood or other material which is designed to be subjected to the turning-lathe.

The nature and object of my invention will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings and the letters marked thereon.

Figure 1 represents a plan view of my machine complete. Fig. 2 is an under plan view of the adjustable curb E, showing the guideslots K and K. Fig. 3 is a cross-section showing the machine cut through the dotted lines a a. Fig. 4 is a plan View showing machine with the adjustable curb E removed for the purpose of showing the guides N and N, which operate in the slots K and K, shown in Fig. 2. It also shows the stud H, which operates in the slot D. Fig. 5 is a plan showing the adjustable curb E, with the thumbscrew H in position over the slot D.

The following is the construction and operation of the same.

I construct the bed-plate A, the fixed curb B, the adjustable curb E, and the slide F either of wood or metal. The bed-plate A is of rectangular form, and the curb B is placed upon one side parallel with the edge of the bed-plate, and the end next to the movable or adjustable curb out at an angle of forty-five degrees, or an exact miter with the curb E, which is placed at right angles with it and parallel with an adjacent side, thus forming a rectangular corner or curb to receive the object to be centered forturning.

The curb or wall E has the guide-slots K and K formed to fit upon the guides N and N, and the slot D to operate upon the stud H. These being at the same angle of the miter-joint, between the curbs B and E, allows an inward movement of the curb E, while it still preserves the position of its inner face at a right angle or perpendicular to the line of the inner face of the fixed abutment B.

The slide F operates in a dovetail groove at an angle bisecting the angle formed by the line of the inner wall of the curbs B and E, so that when the centering-point G is drawn out at any part of its groove it will be equally distant from the curbs B and E, while the curbs stand each in the position shown in Fig. 1, and the relative difference will .be made by moving the curb E in upon its grooves K K and slot D, which are all parallel with the groove 0. The curb E may be set fast by operating the thumbscrew J' upon the stud H. The slide F, which carries the centeringpoint G, may be set fast by an under setscrew, in the usual manner employed for such purposes.

L L and L represent blocks or legs to raise the curb B. y

In centering a rectangular piece of wood twelve inches long and seven inches wide, I would draw the slide F out until the marker or centeringpoint was perpendicular, (six inches out from the line of the fixed curb B,) then move the ad ustable curb E in until the inner line of the same is within three inches of the point G. The above-mentioned piece is laid with one side touching the curb E, and one end touching the curb B. It is then pressed down upon the point G, which, being sharp and of metal, plainly marks the center for the lathe.

It will be readily understood that by changing the relation of the curbs and the slide any part of an irregular piece may be marked or centered for the lathe. These pieces are often required in architectural designs where an ornamental projection is required upon one end, while the other end is to be turned upon the face. Thus a block, say, ten inches long and six inches wide, having an ornamental carving upon one end, is to be turned to form a circular figure upon the face, four inches from the other end. The slide is drawn out until the point G is four inches from the fixed curb B, and the adjustable curb E is moved in to within three inches of the point G. The block is then placed with the plain end against the fixed curb B, and the side against the adjustable curb E. Then press down upon the point G and mark the center for the lathe, thus showing the place for the lathe center in the center of the block laterally, and four inches from the end. Thus it may be operated to center any number of irregular-shaped pieces of the same form by simply finding the required center in the manner shown, the movable parts being set fast to hold them firmly in the position to which they are adjusted.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

In centering-gages for lathes, the bed-plate A, with fixed curb B, to form an abutment or bearing for one end or side of an object to be centered, in combination with the adjustable curb E, to form the bearing for an adjacent side, and the slide F, having the point G, for marking the center of the piece of Wood or other material for the lathe, the whole being constructed and operated substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

D. WV. STANDEFORD. Witnesses:

F. H. HINDs, L. H. GARY. 

